As mentioned in December's Newsletter, this project has been instigated by the need to record the newly exposed gravestone slabs inside the Parish Church at Standish. We had a great response, with a total of 12 volunteers turning up on the two survey days we've completed so far. It's the first time we've attempted this type of survey, but we soon realised that by modifying the recording sheets, we could adopt the method we used last year for the Historical Graffiti Survey. As before, we split our team into small groups to record the various areas of the Church floor. So far, we've been able to record over 60 slabs. Some were too worn to read. Others have just a few letters, initials perhaps, but many have long inscriptions and some have poignant epitaphs. One that particularly caught my eye suggested a sad story lay behind it: "What can more awful be: I hear you say, than death to come in such a sudden way". Our work may hopefully spark more research into the people whose graves these stones represent. Already we've been able to establish the owner of one of them - not a stone this time, but a brass plaque in the Chancel.
Written in Latin, it is badly worn and only a few words of the inscription can be confidently read. However, we can make out MDCCXXIII which is the date of his internment i.e. 1723. As only clergy were allowed in the Chancel, we've been able to establish that it belongs to the Rev. John Johnson who died at the early age of 32. According to the records he had been in post for less than a year when he fell in the graveyard breaking his hip and tragically dying from his injury. We've still got a few more stones left to record including some photography. Once complete, we will produce a report as before which will include a gazetteer of the stones recorded. As usual, you can see more details of our progress on our blog site here.
2020 Programme
It's early days, as usual, but already we have some very interesting speakers. Not least in March we have been fortunate enough to book Dr Andrew Birley who is the Director of Excavations at Vindolanda. He has agreed to come and give us a talk on the latest exciting developments and discoveries at this famous Roman Fort there. As this is a special event, we are expecting a higher level of interest. We're therefore holding the meeting in Mercure Oak Hotel and, as Andrew will be travelling back on the night, at the earlier time of 7.00pm. We're also increasing the price to £3 for members and £5 for guests. Tickets for guests are available on the Eventbrite website (please note, members don't need to book - don't worry if you've already booked, your next Society meeting will be free). In April we will be having Chris Drabble, who is a new member but has been active on a site near Tarpoley in Cheshire for many years. He will tell us all about his work there, excavating a Medieval pottery manufacturing site. In May we will be having Birgitta Hoffman who has spent many years excavating with David Woolliscroft on the Gask Ridge in the foothills of the Scottish Highlands.
Next Meeting
Wednesday 5th February - as mentioned last year we've had to quit our current venue i.e. the Bellingham, which has been sold - not as I'd said, to the NHS however, but to Wigan Council. We had our last meeting (our Christmas meal), in Little Fifteens on Wallgate (opposite the old Post Office) which seems suitable for general meetings. We will, therefore, be having our next meeting there too, which will be our AGM. We're starting at 7.30pm as usual but, after a short spell of Society busy, we will be having a presentation by our chairman, Patrick Maloney, on last year's fieldwork. We've had a particularly busy year, including excavating sites at Toddington Lane and Blackrod, as well as revisits to Burscough for more resistivity work - so Patrick has a lot to tell us about. Hope to see you there.
Committee
I also mentioned last December that we are looking for two new committee members and I'm pleased to say we've had two willing volunteers, John Smalley and Chris Drabble. Both are relatively new members but both have been very active with our fieldwork over the summer. As no other candidates have come forward, these will be hopefully sworn in at the AGM.
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